Ubuntu standard Gnome desktop on Le Potato
I like to follow the 2019 progress in order to reach a complete mainline Linux advanced desktop on cheap ARM SBC like Le Potato ("the goal").
I took an armbian headless image and installed ubuntu-desktop.
Then I started the Wayland session at the password request screen (the X one doesn't work) and surprise ... the standard Ubuntu desktop just works (see screenshot).
It's slows but it works, it uses llvmpipe as graphics.
LLVMpipe is a Gallium3D graphics driver in Mesa that does all rendering on the CPU for providing a software-accelerated fallback.
Waiting for next steps:
-a Libre Computer 19.04 desktop image (with a speeder gnome) with Wayland
-Lima in Mesa
-or upgrade to a Panfrost compatible SBC?
One consideration: Wayland could plays a role for "the goal". But it is not available in light desktop (e.g. XFCE) but only in the more completes (and heavy ones) like Gnome.
Any considerations?
Comments
Having Lima is critical to getting these boards running out of the box. We are prioritizing this project this year. Libre Computer will release a S912 board with Panfrost graphics this year as well.
LXQT and Wayland are the end targets for this work.
Very good. LXQT is aesthetically beautiful.